Holding the Emperor Hostage : Chapter 9: Exchange

Yin Shuhuai felt that Huo Yan was somewhat delusional.

Setting aside that he did not have the ability to take someone’s head from a thousand miles away, even if he did, why would he help a powerful minister who was scheming to depose him eliminate a political enemy?

Was he that bored?

Seeing Yin Shuhuai’s dismissiveness, Huo Yan’s hand moved imperceptibly to his sword hilt, and he spoke in a grim tone: “Shentu Yang is ambitious and fiercely brave in battle. If given time to absorb the tens of thousands of troops that the court lost, he will certainly lead his army south and take Luoyang directly. Who knows how many common people will die by blade and iron cavalry then? Your Majesty, honored as the Son of Heaven, do you truly have no heart of compassion?”

“Credit for success never includes me, but blame for the people’s suffering all falls on me?” Yin Shuhuai spread his hands and simply gave up. “I am just a puppet! It is already impressive enough that I can preserve my own life. How dare I hope to influence the court’s grand situation?”

“You are the emperor!” Huo Yan rubbed his sword hilt, his tone grim. “The emperor’s words are golden and jade. He alone decides the affairs of state. If you want Shentu to die at the third watch, he may not live to see the fifth.”

As long as the remaining Night Owl forces, skilled in assassination, made their move, Shentu Yang would certainly die.

Yin Shuhuai’s gaze fell on Huo Yan’s sword at his waist, and he imperceptibly stepped back two paces. “The Chancellor jests. Even the emperor cannot command the King of Hell.”

“The abilities of the Night Owl are known to all. Why must Your Majesty sell yourself short?” Huo Yan stepped forward slowly, pressing in a low voice: “Or could it be that Your Majesty is sitting by and watching the realm fall into war, intending to reap the fisherman’s profit? Does Your Majesty truly believe that if I and Shentu Yang both suffer losses, there would be any benefit for you?”

Yin Shuhuai let out a long sigh, then drew the sword at his waist with lightning speed.

A flash of cold light swept before his eyes. Huo Yan only heard the ring of a sword, and in an instant his right wrist ached. The Son of Heaven’s sword had already struck heavily against his wrist.

Huo Yan instinctively loosened his hand, and with a clang, his sword fell to the ground. Half the blade slid from its scabbard, emitting a grim sword light.

Yin Shuhuai pointed his sword tip directly at Huo Yan’s throat and said carelessly: “The Chancellor concurrently holds the position of Grand Commandant. In court you already carry the weight of nine tripods and decide the affairs of state alone. Why must you press this puppet so hard?”

Huo Yan looked at Yin Shuhuai in stunned disbelief, the shock in his pupils nearly overflowing: “You actually know martial arts?”

Nonsense, my account was one I painstakingly leveled to max! Do you know what max level means?

Although Yin Shuhuai’s account had been frozen since he crossed over, with all skills locked, at such close range, taking an old man in his sixties by surprise was still no problem.

“…Whether I know martial arts or not is not important. What is important is whether the Chancellor wants to force me to use it!” Yin Shuhuai’s gaze fixed on Huo Yan, sharp and aggressive. He no longer looked like the timid puppet from the court assembly.

In the blink of an eye, the situation reversed. Huo Yan, who had originally wanted to use force to make Yin Shuhuai comply, could only compromise. “Exchanging Shentu Yang’s single death for peace throughout the realm, is this not a good thing that benefits both sides? Your Majesty possesses the rivers and mountains. Do you not desire peace in the realm?”

Yin Shuhuai scoffed: “When has this realm ever been at peace?”

Even though Yin Shuhuai had no opportunity to personally govern, he had attended two grand court assemblies. Those court officials chattered daily about regional lords carving up territory, powerful clans annexing land, natural disasters and man made calamities, roaming bandits rising everywhere, the court’s suppression armies retreating step by step, and imperial decrees failing to reach the regions… Just sitting above and listening, Yin Shuhuai felt that this court seemed about to collapse at any moment. What was even more interesting was that with the situation already so dire, the entire court was still busy fighting for power and checking each other, like crabs locked in a basket!

So Yin Shuhuai genuinely felt that compared to these people, Shentu Yang, who had led eight hundred men in fighting through the Xiongnu, returned to Yan and immediately killed to seize power, then stabilized the frontier situation with the fastest speed, could be called a meritorious official who brought peace to a region. At least he was much better than those noble families and powerful officials who spoke of the rivers and mountains and the altars of soil and grain on their lips, but brought ruin to the country and harm to the people behind their backs.

What was even more laughable was that the person who fought for power most fiercely actually had the nerve to speak to him of righteousness and the greater good. It was only that Yin Shuhuai was not one to laugh easily, or else he would have had to properly mock Huo Yan.

“Since the Chancellor presses me so hard, then let me ask you. After Shentu Yang led eight hundred men back to Yan, did he ever impose heavy taxes and levies, or oppress the common people?”

“This…” Huo Yan hesitated for a moment, but still said: “Although he has not brought calamity to the common people, he personally killed his principal mother and younger brother at the Lord of Yan’s funeral. Such a shocking and monstrous evil is a crime of the ten unforgivable evils!”

Yin Shuhuai sneered upon hearing this: “May I ask the Chancellor, if killing one’s principal mother and younger brother is among the ten unforgivable evils, then what is the crime of plotting to kill the emperor?”

It must be known that before Yin Shuhuai crossed over, four previous emperors had already died under suspicious circumstances. The masterminds behind it were none other than the dignified officials still active in court. Even Huo Yan himself was not innocent.

“…”

Huo Yan was left speechless.

Yin Shuhuai sheathed his sword and smiled leisurely: “As they say, all crows under heaven are equally black. Since the Chancellor knows this well in his heart, why put on such a grand show? It is merely that those who steal a hook are executed, while those who steal a country become nobles.”

Yin Shuhuai could not accept Huo Yan’s murder contract, but he also could not let Huo Yan detect his lack of confidence. So he could only wave a big flag to make himself look like a tiger, putting on a look of utter contempt. Every word made clear that he did not want to be the gun Huo Yan used to eliminate rivals.

But how could Huo Yan give up the opportunity to kill Shentu Yang at the smallest cost?

The ruler and subject faced off for a long time. So long that Yin Shuhuai’s eyes began to feel dry from staring. Finally, Huo Yan spoke in a low voice: “Your Majesty lived among the common folk for sixteen years. You must understand the hardships of the common people. Now there is an opportunity to stop the fighting, let the common people rest and recover, and let hundreds of thousands of soldiers preserve their lives. I wonder if Your Majesty is willing to do it?”

“I am just a puppet…”

“A puppet emperor is still an emperor,” Huo Yan’s gaze fixed on Yin Shuhuai, speaking with great disrespect. “As long as one is emperor, one can command the realm and suppress the regional lords.”

Yin Shuhuai laughed drily. It sounded so nice. Could his decrees even leave the palace?

Huo Yan ignored Yin Shuhuai’s meaningful laughter and continued: “I hope Your Majesty can have the Night Owl deliver a letter to Shentu Yang. In exchange for the court not pursuing his crimes of plotting rebellion, he will return General Who Suppresses Rebels Jiang Yang and the sixty thousand troops captured by Yan. Your Majesty can even enfeoff him as the Lord of Yan and summon him to the capital to receive his title. What does Your Majesty think?”

This was something Yin Shuhuai could do, but…

“What benefit do I get from having the Night Owl help you intimidate and lull Shentu Yang?”

Huo Yan retorted: “What benefit does Your Majesty want?”

Yin Shuhuai said: “I want all the displaced people in the realm to eat their fill and live through this winter warmly and comfortably.”